City of San Carlos

Economic Development Advisory Commission (EDAC)

Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2008

The meeting was called to order by Chair Scot Marsters at 4:11pm.

Roll Call:

Commissioners present:

Mark Green                                                                  

Scot Marsters (Chair)

Mark Lockenmeyer                                                       

Harold Schuette

Mark Luckenbach (Secretary Pro Tem)

Staff present:

Mark Sawicki, Economic Development & Housing Manager

Order of Business

1. Approval of EDAC August 6, 2008 Meeting Minutes

   Motion/Second:Mark Green / Harold Schuette to approve minutes

   Action:Unanimously approved

2. Agenda Review

Presentation by Barry Weiss, Director of Park & Recreation to be moved to the next EDAC meeting on October 1, 2008.

3. Old Business

A. Staff Update – Mark Sawicki distributed a flyer promoting a TOD Marketplace event focused on transit oriented development.The event is scheduled for September 26, 2008 and will include a presentation on the opportunities and constraints for development in the San Carlos CalTrain and El Camino corridor.There are 10 slots for City of San Carlos use and invitations were extended to EDAC members.

Other updates from Mr. Sawicki included the following:

• CB Richard Ellis is doing an economic impact analysis on the Transit Village
• City staff and consultants are preparing an RFQ draft on Wheeler Plaza
• The Bianchini Market will be opening in the old Bell Market site by the end of the year.
• There is no update on what will be happening to the Foodville Market site.
• A number of new businesses have opened or will open shortly on Laurel Street, including the Cask Wine Bar and Red Mango Yogurt.
• Seven proposals have been received for retail/food use for the Holly and Industrial site.The decision was made to sell the City owned property and not lease it, which generated more interest in the site.Scot Marsters and Mark Lockenmeyer inquired about the reason for selling and not leasing. Mark Sawicki indicated that a sale is projected to generate a greater present value for the City.
• RSG is reviewing the feasibility of hotel development for the landmark hotel site including alternate sizes and types of uses.
• The mixed use proposal for the 767 Industrial Road site will be going to the City Council in late October.
• Ross Dress for Less is now up and running at Brittan Corners.
• The City Council is having their annual strategic retreat in September and will be next in session

in October.

B. Update from Economic Development Partnership – Mark Green reported highlights from the

last EDP meeting including a decision to pursue more outreach meetings, particularly with the HIA group.

4. New Business

A. Review of the General Plan Advisory Committee’s Preferred Land Use Alternatives – Scot Marsters, EDAC representative to the General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC), requested EDAC’s input on GPAC’s revisions to the Land Use Alternatives.Mr. Marsters indicated that EDAC input is needed prior to the next Planning Commission and City Council meeting.Mr. Marsters highlighted the revisions, including the following points:

• In Area 1 along San Carlos Avenue, changes were made that do not allow for high density.
• The Gateway Overlay District has been added to the Holly Street corridor.
• The possible annexation of the Harbor Industrial Area was not included in the GPAC discussions.
• GPAC did not look at neighborhood hubs, deciding only that they would be allowed anywhere outside a one-half mile radius outside downtown.

Mark Sawicki added that EDAC should specifically provide feedback on Areas 7 and 9 and on how much regional retail should be included in those areas.Also, in areas 5 and 7, GPAC wanted them to remain as industrial areas while the Economic Development Plan indicates the City should seek regional retail uses.

Mark Green inquired why GPAC wanted areas 5 and 7 to remain industrial.Mark Sawicki indicated that GPAC wanted to preserve industrial land use in San Carlos and neighboring homeowners are concerned about the impact of retail use on the neighborhoods.The discussion on retail turned to the negative reaction to the new Ross Dress for Less store and the question of whether that type of store is appropriate for San Carlos.

Comment from member of the public and HIA representative to GPAC Michelle Margiotta was that GPAC wanted a City where residents could both work and live in and that retail did not lend itself to that.Scot Marsters added that the City did not have enough space to develop the retail needed to meet the City’s revenue needs.Mark Lockenmeyer suggested that tax revenues on existing parcels be studied as a tool to determine best use of land.

Mark Sawicki and Mark Lockenmeyer noted that the P.G.& E. site is a prime site for retail development due to its size, location and lack of existing structures.Mark Green noted that there was very little difference between the existing plan and the proposed plan.Scot Marsters again noted that the changes did not reflect the EDAC plan and again asked the Commission how the plan could be made closer to the EDAC plan.Scot Marsters noted that traffic and the quality of the retailer would be important.Housing was discussed with Mark Sawicki stating that the housing element would be part of the General Plan.Michelle Margiotta asked if annexing Devonshire Canyon would count toward housing and Mark Sawicki stated that it probably would not.

Mark Lockenmeyer said that we should not fear spot zoning for Area 5 under the general topic of R&D zoning.Mr. Lockenmeyer stated that it might be more palatable to change Zone 5 east of Industrial to mixed use.Scot Marsters said that the most heated discussions centered on Area 7 along the freeway.It was thought that it was so close to neighborhoods and that it had so many small parcels that it would be difficult to think about regional retail there.

Mark Green stated that the plan was just a vision and did not have stated goals.Scot Marsters said that goals would be coming in Phase II.Several Commission members stated that that seemed backwards.Discussion shifted to Area 8.Scot Marsters suggested that retail be considered for that since it is so close to Home Depot.Michelle Margiotta stated that Area 8 should be considered for a high school site.Scot Marsters suggested that a map overlay showing a potential high school site be included in the next draft.

Mark Green asked if getting a conditional use permit for retail use could be made easier in the Planned Industrial designation.Scot Marsters stated concern was that the plan would end up eating away at the industrial area. Mark Luckenbach stated his concern about looming bankruptcy and said the City needed a “Miracle Mile” of retail and office development similar to Oracle.Mark Lockenmeyer calculated that even a campus like Oracle’s would not provide enough revenue to the City to make a difference.

The final decision was made that Scot Marsters would present the following EDAC input to GPAC:

• Expand General Commercial/Industrial use in Areas 5, 7 and 8.

5. Other

a. Consideration of proposed future agenda items

Move the review of the proposed marketing strategy and program elements (per Work Plan by October 2008) to November.Drop the proposed discussion of day laborer loitering having it been agreed that this is not an economic development issue.

Public Comment

There was no public comment.

Adjournment

Motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Mark Green and seconded by Hal Scheutte.The meeting was adjourned by Scot Marsters at 6:30pm

Next Meeting

October 1, 2008 from 4:00-5:30pm in Conference Room 207, 2^nd Floor, City Hall, 600 Elm Street, San Carlos.